All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is a mental set in problem-solving?
Answer: Tendency to approach problems in a familiar way. Rigid thinking patterns block new solutions.
Flashcard 2: Identify the cognitive bias where people overestimate their ability to predict outcomes.
Answer: Hindsight bias. The 'I-knew-it-all-along' effect after events occur.
Flashcard 3: What is the availability heuristic?
Answer: Estimating likelihood based on readily available examples. Recent memorable events seem more probable.
Flashcard 4: What is satisficing in decision-making?
Answer: Choosing an option that meets a minimum requirement. Good enough is often better than perfect.
Flashcard 5: What is the term for the tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs?
Answer: Confirmation bias. Seeks supporting evidence while avoiding challenges.
Flashcard 6: What is the definition of an algorithm in problem-solving?
Answer: A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. Guarantees a solution through systematic steps.
Flashcard 7: Identify the term for overestimating the accuracy of our knowledge and judgments.
Answer: Overconfidence. Unjustified certainty in our abilities and knowledge.
Flashcard 8: What is the definition of an algorithm in problem-solving?
Answer: A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. Guarantees a solution through systematic steps.
Flashcard 9: What is a heuristic in the context of decision-making?
Answer: A mental shortcut used to make judgments quickly. Trades accuracy for speed in decision-making.
Flashcard 10: Which problem-solving strategy involves breaking a problem into smaller parts?
Answer: Decomposition. Divides complex problems into manageable subproblems.
Flashcard 11: Identify the term for the tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information.
Answer: Anchoring bias. First impressions disproportionately influence judgment.
Flashcard 12: What is the representativeness heuristic?
Answer: Judging likelihood based on similarity to prototypes. Assumes similar-looking things belong together.
Flashcard 13: Define functional fixedness in problem-solving.
Answer: Inability to see objects being used in nontraditional ways. Mental rigidity prevents creative tool use.
Flashcard 14: What is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking?
Answer: Convergent narrows options; divergent generates options. One focuses solutions, the other explores possibilities.
Flashcard 15: Identify the term for a sudden realization of a problem's solution.
Answer: Insight. The 'aha!' moment when solutions suddenly emerge.
Flashcard 16: What is the confirmation bias?
Answer: Tendency to search for information that confirms beliefs. Ignores contradictory evidence to maintain beliefs.
Flashcard 17: Which heuristic involves solving problems by working backward from the goal?
Answer: Means-end analysis. Reduces gap between current state and goal.
Flashcard 18: What does the term 'framing effect' refer to?
Answer: Decisions influenced by the way information is presented. Context and wording shape our choices.
Flashcard 19: What is a mental set in problem-solving?
Answer: Tendency to approach problems in a familiar way. Rigid thinking patterns block new solutions.
Flashcard 20: What is meant by 'base rate fallacy'?
Answer: Ignoring statistical information in favor of anecdotal data. Overlooks general statistics for specific cases.
Flashcard 21: Identify the bias where people prefer avoiding losses over acquiring gains.
Answer: Loss aversion. Losses feel worse than equivalent gains feel good.
Flashcard 22: What is the gambler's fallacy?
Answer: Belief that past events affect the likelihood of future events. Assumes random events have patterns or memory.
Flashcard 23: Identify the heuristic that involves making decisions based on the most easily recalled information.
Answer: Availability heuristic. Memory accessibility shapes probability estimates.
Flashcard 24: What is the status quo bias?
Answer: Preference for the current state of affairs. Resistance to change favors current conditions.
Flashcard 25: What is the term for the tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs?
Answer: Confirmation bias. Seeks supporting evidence while avoiding challenges.
Flashcard 26: Define the term 'illusory correlation'.
Answer: Perceiving a relationship between variables when none exists. Sees patterns in random coincidences.
Flashcard 27: What is the effect of the 'bandwagon' in decision-making?
Answer: Adopting beliefs because others do. Social proof influences individual choices.
Flashcard 28: What is the sunk cost fallacy?
Answer: Continuing an endeavor due to previously invested resources. Past investments justify continued poor decisions.
Flashcard 29: Identify the term for choosing an option with the highest perceived value.
Answer: Maximizing. Seeks the absolute best possible outcome.
Flashcard 30: What does the term 'cognitive dissonance' refer to?
Answer: Discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions. Mental conflict motivates attitude change.